pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
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Post by pixytwinkle on Dec 30, 2004 8:32:39 GMT -8
I have a male and female gerbil and i am going to let her have 2 litters as i have definate homes for 20 gerbils. When i picked molly up yesterday i thought she felt a little rounder than usual but i though maybe it was just the way i was holdong her or something like that. But today she seems extremely round when i hold her she doesnt really look any different but when i looked under neath her she did look a little larger and she has tiny dark circles on her stomach could these be nipples? i have never noticed them before they are most noticable at the bottom of her stomach. Could all this mean she is pregnant? she has been drinking alot too but i thought that was just because she was hot. What should i do to make her more comfortable or feed her different etc is there anything i should remove from the tank. they have a small wooden see saw a log and a plant pot at the minute will any of these harm the pups? any advice will be greatly appreciated i am extremely nervouse thanx pixytwinkle
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Post by sweetie on Dec 30, 2004 17:57:00 GMT -8
Hey Pixy, Congratulations. If you notice she is fatter and rounder, then she will more than likely have the babies with in *days*. Mine are noticeably rounder only a few days before they have the pups. Make sure she has plenty of water, food and toilet paper. I would also make sur you do a good tank cleaning and remove any objects that might hurt the pups. I also take out everything so I havea better view. After the birth, I cover the tank with a blanket for privacy. I do a daily count of the pups and hold them for a few minutes a day.
Congrats and good luck!! Don't forget the pictures ;D
I almost forgot, great idea on the 2 litters. You can split cage them right before she gives birth to the 2nd litter and leave an older pup in there with Mom to help her raise the litter and leave a boy pup in with Dad for company!!
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Post by j on Dec 30, 2004 23:19:37 GMT -8
Yeah with that description, she's due any day now. Unless she's really tame and doesn't seem nervous, leave her alone for the first couple of days.
I always give lots of toilet papter and unscented tissue to make a nest with and something in the tank to make a nest in. Like a box or a wooden house. (Lately I've been using bird nesting boxes.. they have a flip top so its easy to check on them and they're too heavy for them to move) Or something like a tissue box, she'll chew that down enough to make a nest under it and you can lift it up when you want to check on them..They feel more safer and secure with a nesting box and its easier for the mother to have a few minutes to herself without the pups being able to follow her around and bug her. The parents are also more likely to run around and step all over them and make them squeak when they're loose in the tank.
You don't have to take everything out. Just things that look like pups can be trapped under or heavy dishes and things that can fall on them. Wheels have to be taken out because mothers are known to run on it with a pup hanging from their nipples. You can give the wheel to them if you watch them on it. The parents still need some entertainment like a daily supply of cardboard. Otherwise, they'll go crazy digging in the corners and jumping up and down trying to get out when they get bored.
Good luck.
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pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
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Post by pixytwinkle on Dec 31, 2004 10:49:45 GMT -8
I am going to not touch the pups for a few days after they have been born as molly isnt that tame. Is it best not to pick he rup anymore as i am afraid of hurting her. Once the pups are born will i still be able to clean out the tank or should i just leave it. Will they still be able to come out of there tank for a run around once the pups are older or will the mother be worried about them. thanx for ur advice everyone! pixytwinkle
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Dec 31, 2004 11:20:27 GMT -8
If mum doesn't mind (and they usually don't ) handle the pups from day 1 The pups become very tame this way I usually clean the cage a few days before due date then leave it till the pups eyes open UNLESS it gets smelly, or something untoward happens (such as mum building a nest under the water bottle and soaking her 8 pups !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) If it is necessary to clean the bedding before then do so, if possible leaving a little behind for the smell.
Preganant mums are fine to pick up and gerbil praents anjoy whort breaks from their pups. I had one who would have 5 minutes in the playpen, then blimb out and straight back to her duna!!! She knew when she'd been away long enough!!! Watch your gerbils, they will tell you what is and isn't acceptable.
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Post by j on Dec 31, 2004 22:40:45 GMT -8
I am going to not touch the pups for a few days after they have been born as molly isnt that tame. Is it best not to pick he rup anymore as i am afraid of hurting her. Once the pups are born will i still be able to clean out the tank or should i just leave it. Will they still be able to come out of there tank for a run around once the pups are older or will the mother be worried about them. thanx for ur advice everyone! pixytwinkle You could pick her up if you want, but probably better off leaving her alone if she looks that huge where she's going to pop any minute. If you happen to pick her up and the labor proccess is starting she might freak out.. you said she wasn't too tame. Clean the cage now, before the pups are born and then leave it for a couple of weeks. Oh yeah, you could also add a sand box for the mother.. they always love a good sand bath after delivering and sometimes after feeding. Also the parents will use it as a bathroom so you won't have to worry about the tank getting too dirty. You'll just have to change the sand. After about a week if the mother starts looking bored and is hanging outside of the nest a lot and scratching in the corner and things.. (If she's doing that, that means they're sleeping anyway) you can take her out for a run to burn off some of that energy. Its also a good time to check on the pups if you want. Just put her back in when the pups start squeaking (they're loud) and she'll go take care of them.
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pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
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Post by pixytwinkle on Jan 1, 2005 5:03:07 GMT -8
ok thanx alot i think thats all the questions i have at the moment. pixytwinkle
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Post by amie on Jan 1, 2005 13:39:48 GMT -8
Congrats on the pups!! When will they be born?
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pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
|
Post by pixytwinkle on Jan 2, 2005 13:11:59 GMT -8
well im not sure they still havent arrived but when i picked her up today to clean out the tank she felt huge i have been looking at some past photos of her and she is definately alot larger. she has been sleeping almost all day so im hoping it wont be too long now ;D Im not sure what foods to give her tht have lots of protein does anyone have any questions she doesnt like cat food. Does nayone have any pics of pregnant gerbils so i can be more sure. thanx pixytwinkle
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Post by callimico on Jan 2, 2005 13:53:21 GMT -8
Peanuts have lots of protein, but also fat. So I usually pick out just what's in the bag for the mom. Alfalfa pellets have protein and calcium, and are good for pregnant moms. Some breeders give their mother gerbils scrambled eggs. Or if you wanted to mealworms, but I've never tried that, it's a little to extreme for me lol. Mine don't like cat food either, but I found these treats at my local pet store, I read the back and the protein content is really high, and fat is pretty low. So check out the treat boxes at pet stores, maybe you'll find one with a lot of protein in it. Hope the babies arrive soon ;D
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pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
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Post by pixytwinkle on Jan 2, 2005 13:56:10 GMT -8
Which are the alfalfa pellets I dont really know alot about all this stuff how much protein should it contain if it is high. I have some treats that are 5 % protein is that high or low? I always add exta vitamins into their water or food could this harm the babies? thanx pixytwinkle
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pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
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Post by pixytwinkle on Jan 2, 2005 14:29:45 GMT -8
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Post by callimico on Jan 2, 2005 14:54:08 GMT -8
5% is low, she'll need minimum 15% protein in her food. Sometimes they're called alfalfa cubes, they're just tightly packed cubes of alfalfa hay that teh mothers shred and eat. Sorry, I don't know the name brand. They also sell plain alfalfa hay, in most stores. I really doubt it'll harm the pups, what're the extra vitamins your adding to the water and food? This site www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/breeding.html#breedingHas a pic of a pregnant mom, and info on caring for her before and after pups are born. Doom's got a good pic of a heavily pregnant mom on the New Years thread Is the tank all set for them? Good luck babies are sooo cute but they grow up too fast, lol I usually don't pick mine up until they're a week old, and they grow up soo friendly and love just sitting in hands, they rush over to one as soon as they see it and all pile on. They won't even eat treats if they think they have a chance of getting picked up for out-of-the-tank time. :DI know its perfectly fine to handle them from birth but I just like to give them a little time first. Do you know what colors the pups will be?
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Jan 2, 2005 15:46:59 GMT -8
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Post by callimico on Jan 2, 2005 15:51:22 GMT -8
I love the pic w/mom and dad and the little one between them ;D It is mom and dad right, not a big sis or anyone?
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